The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

Loading ...

Loading ...

This story appears in the {{article.article.magazine.pretty_date}} issue of {{article.article.magazine.pubName}}. Subscribe

Mike Ditka

That Mike Ditka deserves to have his number retired by the Chicago Bears has always been a no-brainer.

By most historical accounts, he revolutionized the tight end position with his pass-catching ability. He compiled a 106-62 record as the team's head coach from 1982 through 1992. Furthermore, he is the only man in pro football history to have won a championship with the same team as a player (1963) and head coach (1985)...and is the only constant linking the Bears last 2 championship teams.

Why now, some 47 years after his departure as a player (1966) and 21 years after his final season as the coach (1992)?

As noted in this piece, Michael McCaskey (oldest grandson of Bears legendary coach and owner George Halas) had a bitter relationship with Ditka even during Iron Mike's successful years as coach dating back to the 1980s. Undoubtedly, the bitterness never thawed...leaving Ditka on the outside looking in.

When McCaskey stepped down as team chairman in 2011, his younger brother George took control. According to Ditka himself on a recent ESPN Radio interview, the McCaskey's reached out to him about the impending jersey retirement. Now, we have a special Monday night halftime ceremony to honor Ditka on December 9 when the Bears host the Dallas Cowboys.

So are the McCaskey's truly being altruistic and nostalgic here, or is something else going on?

Consider that Bears Nation is none-too-pleased these days:

- Failure to reach the playoffs in each of the last 2 seasons despite the promise many hoped would come with QB Jay Cutler and a run to the NFC Championship Game in 2010-11;

- Some fans (and players) were angry that Lovie Smith was fired as head coach;

In light of the facts, it is hard for me to believe that the timing of the Ditka jersey retirement decision isn't at least partly motivated by the franchise's self-serving public relations goal to appease a frustrated Bears Nation.

I'm happy for Iron Mike Ditka. It is an honor that's long overdue, and I look forward to watching that halftime ceremony.

But let's not stand and applaud the Bears organization for their unbridled altruism for righting this long-standing wrong. This decision was in part a strategic organizational effort to stem the tide of low fan morale by giving them something to look forward to. Something that nearly all of them wanted.